PJ Raval | Filmmaker
PJ’s film work explores the overlooked subcultures and identities within the already marginalized LGBTQ+ community. PJ’s 2018 film, CALL HER GANDA, won a dozen Best Documentary and Audience Awards and recently broadcast premiered on PBS to millions of viewers.

Regine Malibiran | Freelance Creative
Regine specializes in writing, social media, and event production. She is a co-founder of the collective blue, the Austin-based lifestyle brand that celebrates diverse creators through digital storytelling and event production. She is also a founder of missfits fest, the event series celebrating Asian-American women in entrepreneurship and the arts.

Selena Xie | Paramedic, Austin Travis County EMS
Selena is a paramedic with Austin/Travis County EMS, a licensed nurse at Dell Seton Surgical ICU and the President of the Austin EMS Association. She also advocated for social justice causes at the Texas Capitol before entering healthcare.

Justin Samuel | Student Affairs Administrator, University of Texas at Austin
Justin has worked in college administration for 13 years. He holds a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy, and his research focuses specifically on Asian American college students, identity navigation, and a sense of belonging in college.

Kymberlie Quong-Charles | Deputy Director, Youth Rise Texas
As an organizer, social worker, and advocacy professional, Kymberlie's focus has been on fighting for just solutions to fix healthcare, education, tax, and immigration systems to protect the most vulnerable people in our society. She provides leadership and secures funding for Youth Rise Texas.

Career Workshop: Activism/Organizing

Michelle Farrow | Owner and Hairdresser, Cherrywood Hair Co.
Michelle always dreamed of working in art or fashion and found hairdressing to be the best of both worlds. She started her own business to take charge of her career and excel further.

Career Workshop: Entrepreneurship

Tony Vo | Assistant Director of the Center for Asian American Studies, University of Texas at Austin
Tony’s work revolves around academic and psychological support and promotion of Asian American studies via the production of Asian Pacific Islander Desi American programming and social justice education.

Career Workshop: Education

Regine Malibiran | Freelance Creative
Regine specializes in writing, social media, and event production. She is a co-founder of the collective blue, the Austin-based lifestyle brand that celebrates diverse creators through digital storytelling and event production. She is also a founder of missfits fest, the event series celebrating Asian-American women in entrepreneurship and the arts.

Career Workshop: Creatives

Jae Kim | Founder and CEO, Chi’Lantro
Jae started a food truck business by maxing out his credit cards and taking out his total savings of $30,000 to pursue his dream of running a Korean Mexican fusion food truck business in 2010. Jae Kim has been featured in Food and Wine, Cooking Channel, and Food Network with his creation, The Original Kimchi Fries. In 2017, Jae won a deal with Barbara Corcoran on ABC’s Shark Tank and today Chi'Lantro has 7 locations in Austin, Texas.

Career Workshop: Entrepreneurship

ChaoLin Chang | Principal, Austin Independent School District
ChaoLin is currently the principal at Joslin Elementary School. After graduating from UT Austin with a M.Ed. in special education, he started his teaching career with Austin ISD as a special education teacher and moved into administration as the assistant principal. Prior to his current position, he was the principal at the Mandarin Immersion Magnet School in Houston ISD. ChaoLin is now working on adding a Chinese foreign language program and possibly a Chinese dual-language immersion program at Joslin Elementary.

Career Workshop: Education

Selena Xie | Paramedic, Austin Travis County EMS
Selena is a paramedic with Austin/Travis County EMS, a licensed nurse at Dell Seton Surgical ICU and the President of the Austin EMS Association. She also advocated for social justice causes at the Texas Capitol before entering healthcare.

Career Workshop: Public Service

Justin Samuel | Student Affairs Administrator, University of Texas at Austin
Justin has worked in college administration for 13 years. He holds a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy, and his research focuses specifically on Asian American college students, identity navigation, and a sense of belonging in college.

Career Workshop: Education

Quynhanh Tran | District Director and Scheduler, Office of the Texas State Representative Celia Israel
Quynhanh manages Representative Israel's calendar, district engagement, and constituent communications. She is originally from Vietnam and recently graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with double majors in Plan II Honors and Economics.

Career Workshop: Public Service

Christine Hoang | Founder and President, Color Arc Productions
Christine is an attorney during the day and a playwright, screenwriter, producer, and actor in the evenings and weekends. Color Arc Productions is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts corporation whose mission is to shine light on diverse stories through theatre, film, and music.

Career Workshop: Creatives

PJ Raval | Filmmaker
PJ’s film work explores the overlooked subcultures and identities within the already marginalized LGBTQ+ community. PJ’s 2018 film, CALL HER GANDA, won a dozen Best Documentary and Audience Awards and recently broadcast premiered on PBS to millions of viewers.

Career Workshop: Creatives

Zafar Choudhury | Engineering Recruiter, Microsoft
Zafar is the Managing Partner for Zonestra Technologies and Sira Consulting, two premier staffing and consulting agencies for IT-Engineering, Professional and Executive positions. He also works as a Talent Acquisition Advisor for enterprise-level tech giants like Apple, Amazon, AMD, Ubuntu and Microsoft.

Workshop: Preparing for internships and the workforce

Monica Thiagarajan | Diversity Counseling and Outreach Specialist of Counseling and Mental Health Center, University of Texas at Austin
Monica received her PhD in psychology from Western Michigan University and her MA in Community Counseling from Loyola University Chicago. Her work has focused on providing mental health services for underrepresented and marginalized populations.

Workshop: Mental Health and Wellness

Rennison Lalgee | Professor of Sociology and Chair of the Department of Sociology and Social Work, Austin Community College
Rennison received a Ph.D. in sociology from The University of Texas at Austin and has had many leadership roles including serving as President of the full-time faculty Senate and department chair.

Career Workshop: Education

Darlene Lanham | Executive director, Asian Family Support Services of Austin
Darlene serves survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking. She also directs the National Coalition Building Institute’s Texas chapter, which provides training and skills to create inclusive communities.

Career Workshop: Non-profits

Zafar Choudhury | Engineering Recruiter, Microsoft
Zafar is the Managing Partner for Zonestra Technologies and Sira Consulting, two premier staffing and consulting agencies for IT-Engineering, Professional and Executive positions. He also works as a Talent Acquisition Advisor for enterprise-level tech giants like Apple, Amazon, AMD, Ubuntu and Microsoft.

Workshop: Preparing for internships and the workforce

Quynhanh Tran | District Director and Scheduler, Office of the Texas State Representative Celia Israel
Quynhanh manages Representative Israel's calendar, district engagement, and constituent communications. She is originally from Vietnam and recently graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with double majors in Plan II Honors and Economics.

Career Workshop: Public Service

Rey Arellano | Assistant City Manager, City of Austin
Rey oversees the public safety departments for the City of Austin. In addition to his 16-year service in local governments, Rey completed a 22-year career as a U.S. Navy Officer, serving as a nuclear-trained Submarine Officer on various submarines and other staff assignments.

Career Workshop: Public Service

Nong Xiong | Student Program Coordinator, University of Texas at Austin
Nong supports UT students from marginalized communities and takes part in positive change for students of color on campus.

Workshop: College Readiness

Holly Kirby | Adjunct Assistant Professor of Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin
Holly worked for nearly 7 years at the Grassroots Leadership to promote the termination of mass incarceration and deportation. She also serves on the LGBTQ Quality of Life Commission at the City of Austin.

Career Workshop: Activism/Organizing

Anuradha Naimpally | Director, Austin Dance India
Anuradha, a 2018 Austin Arts Hall of Famer, has been performing Bharatanatyam Indian dance worldwide for over 35 years. She has also created educational and social projects that included work with intergenerational refugees, climate change, and girl’s empowerment.

Career Workshop: Creatives

Sam Vong | Curator of Asian Pacific American History, Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Before working at the Smithsonian, Sam was the assistant professor of history and a faculty member of the Center for Asian American Studies at The University of Texas at Austin, where he taught courses on Asian American history, refugees, and Southeast Asian Americans.

Career Workshop: Public Service

Jaya Shukla | Founder, Bella Desi
Jaya founded Bella Desi, a Global Inspired Fashion Label. Jaya believes that success without social responsibility is disadvantageous to a business in the long run and is currently working on fashion platforms that focus on promoting economically disadvantaged designers, artists, craftsmen and suppliers. As a passionate educator, she leads seminars on style and dressing for success.

Career Workshop: Creatives

Rey Arellano | Assistant City Manager, City of Austin
Rey oversees the public safety departments for the City of Austin. In addition to his 16-year service in local governments, Rey completed a 22-year career as a U.S. Navy Officer, serving as a nuclear-trained Submarine Officer on various submarines and other staff assignments.

Career Workshop: Public Service

Nong Xiong | Student Program Coordinator, University of Texas at Austin
Nong supports UT students from marginalized communities and takes part in positive change for students of color on campus.

Workshop: College Readiness